Among the Lakota, the drum occupies a position of great cultural and symbolic power. Regarded as a living entity, it is simultaneously understood as a spiritual guardian and a musical instrument. A living tradition and a reference to a past way of life. Consequently, the continued spiritual, ceremonial, and musical duties of those who use the drum, have encourage the use of music and dance as an integral part of current Lakota cultural education and identity.
The drum should be understood as an icon of the Lakota worldview. The drum stems from concepts in the very foundation of Lakota spirituality. Circular and unified, holistic and holy, traditional Lakota theology is based on the understanding that a profound reciprocity exists among all elements, animate and otherwise. Mitakuye oyasin, a phrase used in prayer meaning "all my relations," refers to that reciprocal structuring of the world.
This circular universe is reflected in many items that the Lakota people saw around them. When the Lakota tribes gathered together on the Plains, they would camp in a circle of lodges. The traditional home, the tipi, is a circle, with a circular fire pit in it's center. The drum, providing the heartbeat of the people, made from a hollowed out tree and buffalo rawhide, is a circle. The sun and moon are circles. Tornados and whirlwinds spin in a circle. Bird nests, anthills, and burrows are formed in a circular shape. Hawks and Eagles soar in a circular pattern. The stump of a tree when cut is a circle. The eye is a circle. A rock thrown into a pond, creates circles of waves extending outward. Hail is a circular shape. Rainbows are circles, although we only see half of them at any one time.
As I have already stated, Lakota people do not view their drums as symbolic objects, but rather as spiritual beings, capable of acts of healing or retribution and therefore demanding respect. Thus, Lakota understanding of the drum's relationship to the spirit world is anything but an arbitrary metaphor. The spirit world is concretely perceived in the drum itself, and reflected in its performance, and the protocol pertaining to its care.
New drums undergo a blessing ceremony, are named, and are treated as a living entity under the care of a special drum keeper. Periodic feasts are given in its honor, tobacco and prayers are offered to it before playing, and special songs are composed for it.
Severt Young Bear, a long-time drum keeper for The Porcupine Singers, relates the history of their drum in Standing in the Light: A Lakota Way of Seeing by Severt Young Bear, and Ronnie Theisz, Jr., (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Pres, 1994) pp. 48-49:
"Our drum received many honors over the years. Back in 1974 the drum received its own name at the Ring Thunder Wacipi Days Pow-wow. Four respected singers . . . gave it the name Oyate Ho Nah'umpi (The People Hear Its Voice). That name made the drum a person and over the years it was given a war bonnet, a sacred pipe, and an eagle-feather staff by way of recognition. Old and young people have come to touch the drum to share its energy over the years; dancers have thrown money on it in appreciation for the music it helped to make. I think that drum also took care of the singers who sat around it in a respectful way."
Another interesting post for me there Historian.
Here's a little of my perspective regarding the drum recently.
I have an innate honour and respect for objects used for ceremonial purposes, within any spiritual pathway. I also believe they should reflect the medicine of the owner....as far as possible...otherwise how can an object really connect with them on a spiritual level?
I often have visitations by Power animals. Those wonderful creature teachers who educate us when we are able to listen.
They come into my awareness so often , sometimes they need to lay at my feet until I trip over them,
or peck in my ear until I get their message. :rolleyes:
In recent weeks I have had the blessing of a beautiful Greater Spotted Woodpecker to my birdtable, natures own drummer. I just watched him with childlike glee. Then, I cannot remember now how it started, drums were getting my attention for one reason or another, as I am not a musician, it was unusual, I started to listen, and started putting 2 and 2 together.
This is a very important time for me....there is quite a shift in my circumstances and Woodpecker tells me to start listening, its all about the ears, (eardrum) and vocal chords(vibration)
I have very sensitive hearing as it is....but I need to listen carefully. I have found I have also been placed in the listening place while hearing others speak. When I hear clearly, with discernment, my tongue and vocal chords can speak the truth, matching the rhythm of my loving heart, to those who need to hear words of direct speech
I also need to walk with the beat of my own drum, not someone else's as I have been prone to do. My own biorhythm's are changing, I can feel it.
I have tried to source a bare drum to paint. I have ideas, of course the Woodpecker shall be it's emblem, probably with a semicircle of round hols above his head, with vibrational marks coming from them. Whether I will actually drum with it I am not sure...but it is those personal messengers coupled with artistic flair that should adorn a ceremonial object I feel.
Having just done a bit of surfing the net I came across this:-
Quote: Making drums, rattles and craftwork is medicine. If your medicine is real you will be guided by the spirit world. If you just copy what others do your medicine isn't real and it has no power. - Bull Wolf
A very wise remark.
I love the quote Fleur
I love the quote Fleur
thankyou,
its more or less what I said here myself
"I have an innate honour and respect for objects used for ceremonial purposes, within any spiritual pathway. I also believe they should reflect the medicine of the owner....as far as possible...otherwise how can an object really connect with them on a spiritual level?" (not worked multi quoting out yet)
The sound of drums to me is just magical. When listening to it I feel like my heartbeat is following the rythm of the drums or the rythm is adapting to my heartbeat. In 1998 I attended a Pow-Wow in Maine, New England, I did not dance in the circle, but the sound of the drums was just out of this world and if I close my eyes I can still feel the beat, the rythm and the sound.
Fleur - a few weeks ago you you posted a thread about woodpeckers, which I found highly interesting, as I myself have been visited by a woodpecker in my garden for a few months now and everytime it is around I listen to his pecking and watch it with fascination, it pecks and when it stops it looks around curiously, kind of observing the effect of its sounds to the surroundings. To me it looks like a very proud bird and aware that it is getting lots of attention and it enjoys it. Wonderful!
Today, funnily enough, I was clearing out the garden shed, clearing out old stuff (what I've wanted to do for a long time) and guess who or what was keeping me company in the garden?
The woodpecker! :nature-smiley-008:
Similar to you, Fleur, I am at a stage in my life, seeing and feeling a lot of changes. It feels like I have the urge to clear, clean, get rid of the old stuff in every perspective, inside and outside.
I am a very bubbly person and like socialising, I have been called by some of my friends "the soul of a party", but lately I have caught myself, when going out and being in a crowded place, to listen, to take in the atmosphere the ambience, to get a feel for the sounds and people surrounding me, just to hold back a little, it's amazing what you hear and feel in those moments of inner quietness in a buzzed up place. Apart from one very good friend who has known me for many, many years no one else has noticed! That brought me to the thought that in those occasion people are usually very much focused on themselves (what I used to do probably more then anyone else :(). Anyway, this is getting off topic now. I just wanted to say, that the situation you described in your post sounds very familiar to me.
Love
Zimba